Wasim Jaffer moves to Vidharbha, leaves Mumbai after 19 seasons

Wasim Jaffer, Mumbai cricket team’s long-serving stalwart, will turn up for Vidharbha in the upcoming Ranji season as one of their professionals, according to reports. This brings to an end a journey that started in the 1996-97 season when Jaffer made his debut for Mumbai — going on to make a triple-hundred in just his second match (against Saurashtra).

Jaffer will join his former team-mate Paras Mhambrey in Vidharbha, where he is currently the coach. Incidentally, Jaffer’s would-be captain - Subramanian Badrinath - made a similar switch from Tamil Nadu to Vidharbha last year after spending 12 years with the Chennai-based side.

Badrinath said that Vidharbha will look to build on last year’s good showing where he lead the team to the Ranji knock-outs for the first time in two decades. “After the season concluded, we felt the weak link was right at the top of the order. With Wasim on board, if the senior players can take under their wings three-four young players, it would be fantastic for the team. So that is what we’re looking to continue this year as well,” the former Tamil Nadu star told _Wisden Indi_a .

This news comes on the day where reports have emerged that another legend, Virender Sehwag, is seriously considering a move out of Delhi to represent another state team as a professional.

Jaffer, who is already the all-time leading Ranji Trophy run scorer, is now 241 runs short of the magical 10,000-run mark in the tournament. He has eight Ranji trophy titles to his name, two of them coming under his captaincy, with back-to-back titles in 2010 and 2011. In the last final that Mumbai played (2013 season), Jaffer was declared the Player of the Match as Mumbai went on to a win their 40th title.

Prakash Dixit, the president of the Vidarbha Cricket Association, told ESPNcricinfo about how Jaffer brings enormous experience and expertise to this new-look side. “[Wasim’s> presence will not only be handy in the batting department but also with regard to helping young batsmen from Vidarbha hone their skills and take their game to the next level," he told the website.

Jaffer joins Vidharbha on the back of a disappointing season, where he was bothered by injuries and played just two games for Mumbai. But Praveen Amre recognizes the hole he’ll fill in the Mumbai squad who are going through a barren domestic phase.

“[Jaffer’s> commitment was something else. Even if he wasn’t playing or was injured, he was always available to speak to the boys, talk to them and encourage them. So yes, it will be a loss," Mumbai coach Praveen Amre told Wisden India.

On the plus side, this could also mean more opportunities for the likes of young Shreyas Iyer who broke onto the scene last season. Amre said this is a great opportunity for Iyer and his talented teammates like Suryakumar Yadav and Sarfaraz Khan to take the step up.

The Mumbai team is currently going through a transition phase, having last won the Ranji Trophy in 2013 - and Jaffer’s move leaves Amre with a young, inexperienced squad going into next season. The onus will fall on the next senior member and vice-captain Abhishek Nayar to take over the mantle Jaffer as elder statesman.